A unique and valued platform for both creators and consumers of music since its creation in 2007, SoundCloud has grown to become an integral part of the world of digital music. Once expected to surpass a billion dollars in value, however, the service’s future has now become uncertain.

Source: SoundCloud’s Uncertain Future – hypebot

While many in the music industry welcome this bill, smaller publishers and musicians may be surprised to learn that several of the provisions in the Music Modernization Act may harm their interests.

Source: Under Music Modernization Act Songwriters Lose Unclaimed Royalties, Meaningful Ability To Litigate – hypebot

TV viewership of the The 2018 Grammy Awards was down 24%, but the show still spurred immediate sales gains for the songs performed on Sunday’s  broadcast. Those songs earned a collective 328% gain in download sales in the U.S. on the day of the show, according to initial sales reports. All together, the songs performed (and original versions of songs covered) sold 74,000 downloads, up from 17,000 on the previous day.

Source: Grammys 2018 Boost Sales 328% Despite TV Ratings Drop – hypebot

US copyright authorities on Saturday decided to increase over the next five years the royalty payments music streaming companies like Spotify and Apple Inc (AAPL.O) must make to songwriters and music publishers. The National Music Publishers Association said the ruling, which has not yet been made public, will require streaming companies to give 15.1 percent of their revenue to songwriters and music publishers. The previous rate was 10.5 percent.

Source: U.S. to make streaming services pay more for music

Spotify beat back the scourge of streaming album exclusives, and now it’s ready to go public. Here’s what it says about how fans value artists and platforms.

Source: How Spotify Beat Apple to Charting the Future of Music – The Ringer

Spotify, which accounts for an estimated 17% of all major label revenue, has rejuvenated the music industry. But it’s own revenue future is far murkier. Spotify, like its competitors, is loosing hundreds of millions each year. And while an eminent public stock listing will replenish reserves, eventually the streamer must become profitable.

Source: Spotify Has 4 Paths To Profitability, None Are Good For Labels, Artists – hypebot

Today’s labels actually sit alongside of a new wave of digital opportunity and complexity, far beyond streaming.

Source: Why Digital Music (And Not Just Streaming) Is Booming – hypebot

Streaming music has put the audience in control, letting music fans choose what, when and where they listen. One of the most dramatic changes that streaming has enabled is the expansion of music from a lean-back, linear experience into something far more engaging and interactive. Now fans lean forward to choose the songs they want, build playlists, comment and share. Lyrics are centre stage in this shift, transforming from static-print-hidden-away-inside-album-sleeve notes, to a dynamic extension of the music itself. Lyrics permeate the streaming music ecosystem, from websites, through YouTube and Vevo to the streaming services themselves.

Source: Free Report: Lyrics Take Centre Stage In Streaming Music | Music Industry Blog